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Years ago I posted this question on the Arizona thread at the other site. Got several responses but no one had a definitive answer. Some speculated that they were for ships boats to tie up to, but that's what boat booms are for. My best guess is that they were for tugs to somehow grapple on to while maneuvering the ship, but I have never found photographic evidence of this. They appear on most US battleships prior to the North Carolina class including predreadnoughts. Hopefully someone here has the answer.

Steve Sobieralski